All-Decade Team: Outfield

Nobody has played in more Frontier League games than Washington's Chris Sidick. So it's no surprise that Sidick's name is found frequently in the league's record book.

Sidick holds Frontier League career records for:

Games (588)
At-bats (2,225)
Runs (414)
Hits (635)
Triples (56 - the player in second place has only 24)
Total bases (1,001)
Hit by pitch (57)
Walks (328)
Strikeouts (375)

Sidick also is second in stolen bases with 166, only 12 behind all-time leader Doug Schutt, and is fourth in sacrifices with 43, seven shy of the league record. And he holds the single-season record for triples.

So with all the games played, hitting and baserunning numbers to his credit, I find it odd that the first thing that comes to mind when analyzing Sidick's play is not his offense, but rather his defense.

For seven seasons, Sidick has roamed center field and covered more ground than any other outfielder in the league. After signing with the Wild Things in 2005 following a standout two-sport career at NCAA Division III Marietta College, Sidick quickly established himself as one of the most exciting players in the league as the Wild Things' center fielder and leadoff hitter. His ability to run down balls in the deep gaps of Consol Energy Park also drew raves from opponents. For example:

The Kalamazoo Kings were taking batting practice prior to a game in Washington a few years ago. On his final swing before exiting the batting cage, a slap-hitting rookie for the Kings smacked a ball about as far as he possibly could, driving it the opposite way to the warning track at the angle in right centerfield. The rookie, wearing a wide smile as if to say he had just laced a triple, quickly exited the cage. A Kings teammate and Frontier League veteran saw this and yelled, "Don't smile! Chris Sidick caught that ball in his back pocket."

The rookie probably might have never heard of Chris Sidick prior to that.

Sidick's offense hasn't been as consistent as his defense. He's had several very good years at the plate, some average ones and a couple of seasons when his average dipped to the .240s. He's also hit as many as 13 home runs in a season, stolen at least 30 bases twice and hit an unthinkable 16 triples in 2006.

For his longevity and all-around play, Sidick gets a starting spot in the outfield for the Wild Things' All-Decade Team.

Sidick currently owns C-Side Sports Academy in North Strabane Township.

All-Decade Team Outfielder: Chris Sidick (2005-11)